Teams named for Wales v Barbarians match

Rory Best in action for the Barbarians v Fiji at Twickenham Rory Best will captain the Barbarians team on Saturday (Mike Egerton/PA)

Former Ireland captain Rory Best will captain the Barbarians team to play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

France centre Mathieu Bastareaud lines up in midfield alongside South Africa's Andre Esterhuizen, while Curwin Bosch and Bryn Hall are the half-backs.

Best lines up in the front row with Fiji's Campese Ma'afu and Wiehahn Herbst, while Pete Samu, Marco Van Staden and Josh Strauss form the back row.

Barbarians head coach Warren Gatland is making an emotional return to Cardiff after ending his 12-year stint with Wales earlier this month.

"It's been a great experience, getting to know players I've not worked with before," Gatland said. "The guys have bonded and had a bit of fun, as well as getting serious as well.

"I'm just looking forward to Saturday. It's a great opportunity for me to say thank you to the fans and the Welsh public for 12 brilliant years."



Justin Tipuric will captain Wales and Scarlets wing Johnny McNicholl is to make his first appearance against the Barbarians on Saturday.

New coach Wayne Pivac has named a pack who all featured at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, with Tipuric joined in the back-row by Aaron Shingler and Aaron Wainwright.

Lock forwards Jake Ball and Adam Beard also figure, with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Dillon Lewis named in the front-row.

Cardiff Blues half-backs Tomos Williams and Jarrod Evans link up with Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Watkin partnered in midfield. Uncapped McNicholl will line-up in a back three alongside Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny.

Former Scarlets boss Pivac, who has succeeded his fellow New Zealander Gatland, said: "This week has been hugely exciting and hugely important for us as a group.

"It has been an opportunity for us as a new squad and management to get together and to set the scene for what the future holds.

"There has been quite a lot of learnings for the squad this week, looking at what we are trying to do and us providing some clarity but we have also stressed the enjoyment factor of being together for the first time and the excitement of not only this weekend but the future."



This will be the first meeting between the two sides since 2012.

Pivac said: "This weekend itself is really exciting. The Barbarians are what rugby is all about.

"It is the fun element of the game and supporters should be looking forward to some good old fashioned running rugby and it should be an entertaining afternoon.

"It is fantastic to have a double header at the stadium with Wales Women and it should be a great showcase of rugby."


Wales team

Forwards: 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Justin Tipuric (Captain), 8 Aaron Wainwright

Backs: 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Jarrod Evans, 11 Josh Adams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Owen Watkin, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 15 Leigh Halfpenny

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Owen Lane​


Barbarians team

Forwards: 1 Campese Maafu (Leicester Tigers & Fiji), 2 Rory Best (Ulster & Ireland), 3 Wiehahn Herbst (Blue Bulls), 4 Luke Jones (Melbourne Rebels & Australia), 5 Tyler Ardron (Waikoto Chiefs & Canada), 6 Pete Samu (Act Brumbies & Australia), 7 Marco Van Staden (Blue Bulls & South Africa), 8 Josh Strauss (Stade Francais & Scotland)

Backs: 9 Bryn Hall (Crusaders & Maori All Blacks), 10 Curwin Bosch (Natal Sharks & South Africa), 11 Cornal Hendricks (Blue Bulls & South Africa), 12 Andre Esterhuizen (Natal Sharks & South Africa), 13 Mathieu Bastareaud (Lyon & France), 14 Dillyn Leyds (Stormers & South Africa), 15 Shaun Stevenson (Waikoto Chiefs & Maori All Blacks)

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits (Blue Bulls & South Africa), 17 Craig Millar (Sunwolves), 18 Hencus Van Wyk (Sunwolves), 19 George Biagi (Zebre & Italy), 20 Angus Cottrell (Melbourne Rebels), 21 Jano Vermaak (Stormers & South Africa), 22 Billy Meakes (Melbourne Rebels), 23 Matt Duffie (Auckland Blues & New Zealand)

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